 Artist and minister David Weiss painted pictures inspired by the New Church Development Conference (see story at left). This painting illustrates the text for the conference, 1 Corinthians 3:6. View the photo album from the conference .Link to the New Church Development webpage to listen to the following audio podcasts from the conference: Belita Mitchell, pastor of the Harrisburg First Church of the Brethren, providing the message during the opening worship service .Pastor Rose Swetman and author Jim Henderson discussing their experiences as church planters. Author and keynote speaker Jim Henderson engaging in a dialog with two atheists Shane and Willis, who were hired to visit local Church of the Brethren congregations. Jim Henderson discussing his book Jim and Casper Go to Church, the conversation between Jim and his atheist friend Casper after attending multiple churches together. Lidia Gonzalez preaching at the closing worship service on Saturday, blending Spanish and English to offer a word of challenge and encouragement. |
Church of the Brethren Newsline
June 21, 2010
The New Church Development Conference was held May 20-22 at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind.
Was it a church planting conference or a Holy Spirit conference? It was hard to make a distinction as 120 participants gathered for the fifth biennial conference sponsored by the Church of the Brethren’s Congregational Life Ministries and New Church Development Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and hosted by the seminary.
Planters, district leaders, and revitalizing pastors attended this event, which challenged, inspired, connected, and equipped the church for new mission and ministry development.
Guest leaders Jim Henderson and Rose Madrid-Swetman provided provocative and practical perspectives and tools for connecting with non-Christians and engaging local communities with the transforming Gospel. Henderson challenged the gathering to “take back Jesus” from Christianity and stay focused on valuing the “outsider” unconditionally, while clearly following Jesus. Swetman shared the purpose for and practical forms of community-based servant ministry, drawing on her experience as a pastor/planter in the Seattle area. Swetman also shared her gift of spiritual insight through reflective listening and prayer leadership.
Workshops were led by Church of the Brethren planters and leaders, focusing on everything from holistic health for planters, to practical steps for beginning a plant, to the district’s role in supporting new plants. Thirty workshops were offered, including a complete track of workshops in Spanish. Translation was provided throughout the conference.
Worship and prayer rooted the conference. Preaching to begin the event was Belita Mitchell, a former Annual Conference moderator and current pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa. Church planter Lidia Gonzalez provided the encouragement and challenge for the close of the conference. Worship was coordinated by Bethany professor Tara Hornbacker.
Two evening sessions were open to the public, the second of which drew an overall attendance of 180 people to hear two atheists talk about their experiences visiting local Church of the Brethren congregations. The interview with Willis and Shane was conducted by Jim Henderson and was alternately uncomfortable, enlightening, and motivating.
A photo album of the conference is online at www.brethren.org/site/PhotoAlbumUser?view=UserAlbum&AlbumID=11363 . For more information about new church development in the Church of the Brethren contact churchplanting@brethren.org or Jonathan Shively at 800-323-8039.
— Jonathan Shively is executive director of Congregational Life Ministries.
Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every other week.